Wireless home network question 2

[metamorphy]

I have a standard wired network in my home....all of my computers are in one office, connecting through cat 5 cables/ standard broadband router, etc.

I need to add one workstation to the network in another part of my house. What is the best solution? It doesnt seem practical for me to run a 100' cable across my house. Can I add one wireless client without overhauling the existing topology? What is the bare bones equipment I will need? Thanks for the help!!

-CH

 

[edfair]

One wireless access point and one wireless network card and adapter card.
But you might want to look at an alternative, power line networking. 2 adapters plugged into power outlets near each end of the path you need.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[bcastner]

I vote powerline:

http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030108S0003

I read recently a newsgroup comment by Steve Winograd (of practiclynetwored.com fame) where he found so many uses for the device on client sites he could not keep a set in his house long enough to actually test them.

That has been my experience as well.

Fred Langa is a very experienced Windows Networking guy, and he loved them. Another guy, David Storm, who has written three books about Windows networking is also convinced:

http://www.internetwk.com/story/INW20021125S0007?ls=TW_010303_fea&fb=20030103_network

As a personal note, I use these devices regularly.

 

[metamorphy]

Thanks for the help!!!!!

 

[bcastner]

For the curious, my own experience:

Powerline was terrible stuff in its first appearance. For non-wired use, alternatives to cable, phoneline seemed at first a reasonable alternative. While not as bad as the original powerline, it is tough to support.

I went all wireless, and like wireless a very great deal, particularly the wireless G routers available at present.

But I was at a Conference a year and more ago, and was handed two powerline adapters to ethernet.

In the following week I was at a site where it was not possible to run cable. So I pulled those powerline freebies out and connected a second access point for the internet. In two minutes the issue was solved. I became a believer.

Three notes to finish this thread:

. The powerline folks are just about agreeing on a new standard for 108mbs, the current standard is 14mbs. This will provide something close to Fast Ethernet wired speeds with powerline;

. Ignore any speed ratings. Powerline provides the equivalent of a fast 802.11b wireless connection without any fuss. It offers no more at the moment. (See above).

. I use the adapters currently in my practice to connect sites to the internet. If the site requires a lot of LAN specific file transfers or file sharing, you should consider again wiring with cable or wireless G. But if your LAN needs are modest, and internet connection is the big issue, consider powerline adapters. They are much faster than any internet connection you could reasonibly purchase.


Last note: I have a brother that lives in a rural area, and he is the last point that any broadband service wants to connect to. He wanted to share broadband in a non-commercial way with his deprived neighbors.

He and his neighbors bought a lot of wireless equipment. They could not get it to work. I showed up with 12 powerline adapters, looked (all behind the same transformer) and connected 8 households within two minutes of being in their homes. They returned their wireless for credit.

Related note: I had a client who leased a large industrial park. They grew, and wanted to add an additional builing to their complex approximately 400' from the main buildings. I pulled out two powerline to ethernet adapters, and they are very happy.

Any network guy/gal reading this thread, please consider these devices.

I note I have no, zero, financial interest in whether they work or not for you circumstance. I just honestly have found them great stuff.

Bill Castner